Method and apparatus for providing data produced in a conference

Abstract

A method for providing data produced in a conference, in which voice signals from participants in the conference are mixed in a conference bridge, can include provision of a time base that runs concurrently over the duration of the conference and setup of automatic identification of each participant when this participant speaks in the conference. The method also comprises capture of conversation contribution by each speaking participant to a conversation by the participants which is conducted during the conference as speaking time associated with each speaking participant at the conference, association of a time stamp with the speaking time, and production of statistical data by virtue of statistical evaluation of the speaking times of the participants.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 identifying a first speaking contribution from a first participant during a real-time communication;   identifying a second speaking contribution from a second participant during the real-time communication;   determining a number of speaker changes occurring in an immediate succession between the first participant and the second participant using the first speaking contribution and the second speaking contribution; and   controlling a media flow using the first speaking contribution, second speaking contribution, and the number of speaker changes.   
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 determining the immediate succession by determining a speaking pause between the first speaking contribution and the second speaking contribution.   
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 determining the immediate succession by determining no pause between the first speaking contribution and the second speaking contribution.   
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 determining the immediate succession by determining that the second speaking contribution begins before the first speaking contribution ends.   
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , wherein identifying the first speaking contribution comprises identifying a first start time and a first stop time for the first participant. 
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , wherein identifying the second speaking contribution comprises identifying a second start time and a second stop time for the second participant. 
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 identifying a first chat contribution from the first participant in parallel with the real-time communication;   identifying a second chat contribution from the second participant in parallel with the real-time communication; and   wherein determining the number of speaker changes comprises determining the number of speaker changes using the first chat contribution and the second chat contribution.   
     
     
         29 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 28 , wherein identifying the first chat contribution comprises identifying the first chat contribution based on a time basis of the real-time communication. 
     
     
         30 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 28 , wherein identifying the second speaking contribution comprises identifying the second chat contribution based on a time basis of the real-time communication. 
     
     
         31 . A server, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:   identifying a first speaking contribution from a first participant during a real-time communication;   identifying a second speaking contribution from a second participant during the real-time communication;   determining a number of speaker changes occurring in an immediate succession between the first participant and the second participant using the first speaking contribution and the second speaking contribution; and   controlling a media flow using the first speaking contribution, second speaking contribution, and the number of speaker changes.   
     
     
         32 . The server of  claim 31 , wherein the memory stores further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 determining the immediate succession by determining a speaking pause between the first speaking contribution and the second speaking contribution.   
     
     
         33 . The server of  claim 31 , wherein the memory stores further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 determining the immediate succession by determining no pause between the first speaking contribution and the second speaking contribution.   
     
     
         34 . The server of  claim 31 , wherein the memory stores further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 determining the immediate succession by determining that the second speaking contribution begins before the first speaking contribution ends.   
     
     
         35 . The server of  claim 31 , wherein identifying the first speaking contribution comprises identifying a first start time and a first stop time for the first participant. 
     
     
         36 . The server of  claim 31 , wherein identifying the second speaking contribution comprises identifying a second start time and a second stop time for the second participant. 
     
     
         37 . The server of  claim 31 , wherein the memory stores further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 identifying a first chat contribution from the first participant in parallel with the real-time communication;   identifying a second chat contribution from the second participant in parallel with the real-time communication; and   wherein determining the number of speaker changes comprises determining the number of speaker changes using the first chat contribution and the second chat contribution.   
     
     
         38 . The server of  claim 37 , wherein identifying the first chat contribution comprises identifying the first chat contribution based on a time basis of the real-time communication. 
     
     
         39 . The server of  claim 37 , wherein identifying the second speaking contribution comprises identifying the second chat contribution based on a time basis of the real-time communication. 
     
     
         40 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause:
 identifying a first speaking contribution from a first participant during a real-time communication;   identifying a second speaking contribution from a second participant during the real-time communication;   determining a number of speaker changes occurring in an immediate succession between the first participant and the second participant using the first speaking contribution and the second speaking contribution; and   controlling a media flow using the first speaking contribution, second speaking contribution, and the number of speaker changes.   
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 40  storing further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause:
 identifying a first chat contribution from the first participant in parallel with the real-time communication; 
 identifying a second chat contribution from the second participant in parallel with the real-time communication; and 
 wherein determining the number of speaker changes comprises determining the number of speaker changes using the first chat contribution and the second chat contribution.